Forum Activity for @rob-n-lackey

Nice find Dana. Can't wait to hear it

Got down the dulcimer and played several John Hartford tunes. Surprising how easily they transfered. He was such a talent. I'd have to listen a few more times to see if I could determine the mode. It sounds like it'll be a fun tune to learn.

Thanks, Randy. John was one of the great ones.

Well, well, how many indeed? I have 2 3 strings tuned DAd, neither of which has any 1/2 frets. I have 2 with 4 equidistant strings one tuned DAAd one tuned DADD. I have a 3 string and 4 string with paired melody string tuned DAA. I have a 5 string which I had in Jim Good's tuning bDGGG but which is now tuned dDAdd (both the bass and melody are paired.) And lastly the Heatherwood is in DAdd but with geared tuners it gets changed to DGdd or DAcc or DGcc (again paired melody string.) When I finish fixing up the other 3 we'll see what tunings they want to be in. The one in my avatar will not sound correct if tuned to DAd and the other one tuned DAA came that way with heavier strings on it, so I just left it like that. I'll be using it on one of my next videos, I hope. Oh and the Capritarus is CGcc (again paired melody string.) I don't like to retune to DAA from DAD. I use heavier strings on the ones tuned to DAA and lighter strings on the ones tuned DAd. The Capritarus just sounded better in C tuning to my ear. I may change the Mastertone 5 string to DGd. In fact I'm going to do that now. So many of mine have pegs instead of gears, it just makes it easier.

Oh and I played for over 20 years and had only one. These others have been acquired in the last year.

Rob

Interesting discussion!

When I started with the dulcimer 25 years ago I had played the guitar for many years. I either learned by guitar pieces by ear or by music (SMN.) I hated guitar tab, even though I had a couple of books which used it (along with SMN.) However, when I got my dulcimer, I bought tab books. I didn't try to read SMN; I played either by tab or by ear.

Now, coming back to the dulcimer after about a 10 year lay off, I find myself using SMN rather than tab. I'll use tab as guide if SMN isn't available and I now can read it perhaps better than I did 25 years ago. However, it is still a guide on the way and not the end of the journey. It's useful but not necessary. I have seen people who cannot without the tab or continue, after playing the song for years maybe, to play it exactly like the original tab. As a classical guitarist I know it's totally correct to play the musical score exactly as written, but the good players interpret what is written. They make it their own.

Which brings me to my point (if I have one.) Whatever you use, TAB, SMN, ABC, it's all a tool to do one thing: MAKE MUSIC. Any written notation is not the "music" it's a representation of the music and should be considered as a friendly guide to assist you along the way to the tune. The tune comes from your head and your hands and your heart, so whatever it takes to get those acting together (and in harmony) is a good thing. For me, if I were get a "do over" I probably wouldn't buy nearly as much tab as I did. I would find the music I like and play it and play it and play it.

So.... to answer your question, any written helps are a starting point around which you build YOUR version of a song/tune. Try to develop your ear because some TABS are going to be different from what you're hearing on a recording. It doesn't matter whether it was because someone was careless in their copying of a tab/music score or whether they were just wrong in the notes, the notation won't match what you're hearing. Listen carefully and compare, then play it the way you feel it!

Rob

WOOOOO WHOOOO

Way to go Ken!

Great find

According to strothers string gauge calculator the strings for a 3 string 25" vsl dulcimer would be

11p d
14p A
21w D

However, after receiving my 25" vsl back from my luthier yesterday, he used

11p d

16p A

23w D

He said he tried the 1st and found they were a little light, particularly to tune down to CGc. After playing all night (almost) on it, I have to think he was right. I'll post up some pictures of it to see if anyone might recognize the unique head and be able to tell who the maker was.

Anyway... trying different string gauges would be good to see what works well for YOU! YOU are the one who must be satisfied with the tension of the strings and the sound they produce.

I haven't used bronze wounds on a dulcimer but I do use them on my flat top guitars. I may try them, but it is hard to find the singles locally in the correct gauge. I have seen others use them and I don't think they "hurt" the sound at all, even though I was surprised to see them on a dulcimer. I may have to experiment on at least one of mine with them.

Robert

Then again, I was asked if I wanted to join a jam recently, and did so reluctantly because I did not know the tunes they were playing and I was carrying a new (to me) dulcimer with which I wasn't fully comfortable. However, insistence of the people prevailed over my common sense and I joined in anyway. I chorded along using my thumb and fingers not a pick, didn't try to take the lead and played a little "fill" type harmony. I was asked several times to lead a tune, but I begged off. NEXT time, hopefully, I'll have an instrument I've played more and which feels comfortable and I can more fully participate since I had a GREAT time just being with those folks!

Keep looking Thanna and you'll find a place to fit!

It's a shame some groups are so hide-bound! I was talking to some in a group (after they had played) and they also didn't know any other tuning other than DAD. When I showed them my dulcimer was tuned to DGD, they acted like it was something strange and unusual or maybe from Mars. Only one person was brave enough to try it, and they used mine instead of re-tuning theirs.

Hopefully you'll find some other more welcoming

Congratulations, seriously.

However, in one of the pictures it looked like there was a small crack going down the top at the round soundhole between the 1st and 2nd strings. That may need to be checked. I was hoping it was just the angle of the camera, but I couldn't get away from it in my mind.

Robert

so you're the one that out-bid me!

5,000!!!! Hard to believe it! Great job Lisa, et al, for this wonderful web community.

Probably today! Can't wait to see that number!

LOL, Lisa, does it melt in the dark? Or is it just the sweet green "icing?"

Well, Lisa, I was counting a little on the high side, but I'll bet it's not too far off.

Yes, you sweet, demure, modest little things with your one or two are offset by some of us with a bunch (for now.) LOL

Rob

Even tho' I've sold one, I know have at least 20 still. If the average is 10 then that's 50,000 dulcimers floating around out there. And how many more are in closets or hanging on walls that need to be played and have the sweet sound flowing out from them.

5,000 members. Hard to believe even in this world-wide internet "society." Lisa, we appreciate you and thank you, Darlin', for giving us this community!